[Eric in the Ozarks]

Japan and Okinawa are almost two different countries...

[Captain Rhino]

There are plenty of Okinawans who wish they and Japan really were different countries.

Unfortunately, Okinawa is in the middle of a strategically very important access point to the Pacific for both China and Russia.

Okinawa is doomed to be the possession of a great power. If not Japan, then China. If not Japan or China, then Russia.

If such a fate is the case, Japan, for a number of reasons is the better deal.